Historic Beacon Hill Neighborhood in Boston
Downtown Boston is home to some of the oldest homes and buildings in the country. Decades — and in some cases, centuries — old restaurants and pubs dot the city’s landscape. Thankfully, all the things that make historic buildings intriguing, inviting, and intimate often make them very romantic as well. Here are eight of the most romantic restaurants in the city of Boston:
#1: Mamma Maria
Tiny, unassuming, and intimate, Mamma Maria sets the standard for quiet romantic dining in Boston. The neighborhood restaurant has won countless awards in their more than 40-year history. Like many North End restaurants, the menu is ever-changing based on seasonality and available ingredients. Expect modern twists on classic Italian dishes like braised rabbit, lobster pasta, and figs with gorgonzola and prosciutto. The Frutti di Mare — Genovese-style seafood pasta with wild Georgia shrimp, scallops, mussels, countneck clams, poached calamari, and sautéed spinach — is arguably the best in the city.
#2: Deuxave
Dark rich woods, a gas fireplace, large bespoke chandeliers, and panoramic front windows all establish the chic, stylish, upscale experience at Deuxave. This Back Bay institution serves a mix of high-end French and American cuisine including Tagliatelle “Bolognaise”, Spiced Long Island Duck Breast, and Duck Liver Pate. The menu also features a number of inventive dishes, like seared Hudson Valley foie gras & pink muscat grapes. Prices are mostly inline with other upscale Boston restaurants, but the quality of food is second to none.
Elegant Dinner
#3: No. 9 Park
With eight high-end dining outlets (and more always in the works), Barbara Lynch is well known on the Boston restaurant scene. The chef’s No. 9 Park promises to “take you on a journey across Italy”. The dining area is set in a classy, elegant space with dark, polished wood countertops, and antique chandeliers that lend a decidedly European feel. The dinner menu offers a la carte specialties such as handmade pasta, as well as a seven-course chef’s tasting menu that changes each week.
#4: Lucca
Lucca is yet another North End neighborhood favorite featuring Italian cuisine served in a classic, charming bar and dining space. The menu is an interesting mix of traditional old country favorites like braised red wine beef short ribs and rigatoni bolognese, alongside modern dishes like braised wild boar and lobster cavatelli. The dulce (dessert) offerings are all perfectly shareable classics like panna cotta, tiramisu, and chocolate torte.
Couple Enjoying a Romantic Dinner
#5: Oleana Cambridge
The North End is a great standby for reliable, romantic dining, but Boston offers so much more. If you’re looking for something a little different, Cambridge’s Oleana Restaurant offers “outrageously inventive food” inspired by Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. From chickpea crêpes with smoked cinnamon aioli to lamb steak with Turkish spices & fava bean moussaka, the menu is an eclectic mix for sure. It’s all served in a cozy, intimate atmosphere both inside and on their quiet, outdoor garden patio.
#6: Bar Boulud
When you’re really looking to step up your “dinner date” game, Bar Boulud is just the place. The lavish bistro/wine bar is neatly tucked into Boston’s Mandarin Oriental hotel and offers French dishes with a splash of Beantown flare. The curved wood ceiling is reminiscent of oak barrels, and the buttoned red velvet seating reminds you that you’ve arrived at someplace special. The Coq au Vin is a house specialty, with a decadent red wine sauce, pearl onions, braised chicken, and (of course) bacon. More casual fare is also on offer with selections like The Departed burger, with cheddar cheese, crisp bacon, and Guinness braised onions.
Sommelier Pouring Wine
#7: Blantyre Restaurant
For something truly special and unique, Lenox’s luxurious Blantyre in the Berkshires promises to take diners back in time to Victorian-era New England. The property’s over-the-top formal dining room is bedecked in ornate furniture, dark, carved wood seating, meticulous floral arrangements, and centuries-old paintings of (presumably) once influential, colonial socialites. The prix fixe menu changes seasonally and is available in three- or four-course varieties. Chef Arnaud Cotar also offers a “surprise” five-course tasting menu for $165 or $300 with wine pairings.
#8: Liquid Art House
If your significant other likes a little avant-garde art with their fine dining, Liquid Art House may be the best (and only) such restaurant in Boston. The restaurant-meets-gallery concept is still relatively new in the Northeast, making the property quite unique for the region. A rotating collection features everything from contemporary, eclectic paintings to handcrafted Murano glass chandeliers. The menu is equally as funky, offering everything from handmade dumplings, to roasted scallops, to a massive 20-ounce rib-eye steak.
Of course, if you just can’t decide on a single restaurant for the night, check out a guided culinary tour of Boston. This intimate, two-hour Wine Tasting and Walking Tour explores some of the city’s best eateries in Harvard Square, South End, North End or Back Bay, with plenty of vino and food samples along the way.
Learn about Boston food, wine and nightlife tours
- Contributed by Mike Richard
The 8 Most Romantic Restaurants in Boston from Boston Things to Do